NEW DELHE Total Deinduction of the Indian peace keeping force (IPKF) from Sri Lanka should be possible by March 31; the government informed the Lok Sabha.

By December 31, six of the eight districts of the north-eastern provinces of Sri Lanka had been vacated by the Indian peace keeping force (IPKF) external affairs Minister Inder Kumar Gujral said in reply to a written question by S D N Wadiyar and P R Kumaramangalam.

Gujral said the government had proposed to Sri Lanka an early meeting of concerned officials to work out the deinduction schedule and to examine whether any acceleration of the process was possible.

“Government of India and Si Lanka are committed to jointly work out the expeditious de-induction of the IPKF,” he said.

The minister referred to Sri Lankan foreign minister Ranjan Wijeratne’s visit to New Delhi from December six to eight. Bilateral talks centered on matters of mutual interest, including the deinduction of the IPKF and recent developments in the northeastern province.

Gujral said in reply to another written question from Madhayrao Scindia and Banwari Lal Purohit that in discussions with Wijeratne the government reiterated its resolve to strengthen relations with neighboring countries.

“Both governments were of the view that the approach should be ‘one of trust and cooperation and of a joint endeavor for the mutual fulfillment of obligations,” the external affairs minister said.

A sudden ultimatum by president Premadasa on June I to India to withdraw IPKF before July 29 took not only India but members of his own cabinet by surprise and led to the brink of a major confrontation with India.

Hectic diplomatic activities in both the capitals ultimately saved the situation. On September 18, India declared that it would do its best to complete the IPKF withdrawal by December 31, while Sri Lanka reiterated it would take all steps to ensure safety and security of the people of northeast and expedite revolution of powers to the provincial administration. IPKF also announced a cessation of hostilities against LTTE.

But the situation took a turn for the worse as rival Tamil groups fought to establish their supremacy in the areas vacated by IPKF.

When a change in the government took place at Delhi following general elections, Sri Lanka government was prompt in its attempt to establish rapport with the administration of prime minister V P Singh and rushed foreign minister Ranjan Wijeratne to Delhi even before the new government could settle down.

LTTE also expressed a similar desire, A round of discussions took place in Madras between LITE and Tamilnadu chief minister Karunanidhi, acting at the behest of the prime minister, but a concrete ‘outcome may take shape only in the new year.

Article extracted from this publication >> January 12, 1990